Courage In Numbers

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Jim Rohn

“Whoever walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.” Proverbs 13:20

Friend Power. The principle of how your friends influence you cannot be underestimated.

When you decided to become a sales professional, who did you spend time with? Was it the guys around the water cooler, complaining about the economy? Or was it the group that was really pounding it? Who helped you accomplish more? That is friend power!

To change your results, look at the lives of the people you spend time with. Jim Rohn put it this way, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” What determines your results? The actions you take on a daily basis. What determines your actions? Your thinking. And what is the greatest influence on your thinking? The company you keep. So if you want to change, then surrounding yourself with people who will support that change in a positive way is essential!

Here are 3 things you can do to get the courage to change:

1. Start reading! One way to rub shoulders with great people is to read their biographies. Their stories inspire us when we suffer setbacks, and encourage us when we doubt ourselves. I personally recommend Joe Girard’s book, “How To Sell Anything To Anybody”. His personal stories inspired me! The great men and women like Joe become our heroes and we can look in the pages of their lives for wisdom and inspiration to tackle the challenges that can threaten the realization of our goals and dreams. And we can sense their greatness when we are successful.

2. Get a mentor. Mentors are people who have tread the path ahead, and will coach you to achieve your goal. They are invested in your success, and they know what pitfalls you will encounter. They’ve been through it or worse. In my own life, I owe my success to the guidance and support of my real estate mentor, Rob Hoerntlein, and my sales coach, Eric Lofholm. They’re wisdom and encouragement gave me courage when I was afraid. They celebrated my wins, as well as help me find the lessons in my misses. They truly invested a lot in my success. If you are serious about change and you need courage, find a good mentor. You can’t do it without one!

3. Join a professional network. Sales can be a lonely profession. The obstacles to success can be overwhelming. Spending time with like minded professionals can help you see new perspectives and give you new ideas to try in your sales calls. By helping someone else, you will find that you are helping yourself.

You will either walk with the wise, or you will fall with the fools. Which will it be for you? Choose your friends wisely!